
NoTE.—"In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and
laid it Himself. He called it 'a sure foundation.' The entire world may
lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With per-
fect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a 'tried stone.' Those who
trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has
endured the pressure of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity,
and has come off more than conquerer of the powers of evil. He has
borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ
the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who
make Him their dependence, rest in perfect security."—"The Desire of
Ages," pp. 598, 599.
4.
How did Christ allude to the prophecy concerning Him as the
"chief corner stone"? What incident familiar to His hearers did He
cite as an object lesson? Matt. 21:42; Ps. 118:22.
NOTE.—"In quoting the prophecy of the rejected stone, Christ re-
ferred to an actual occurrence in the history of Israel. The incident was
connected with the building of the first temple. While it had a special
application at the time of Christ's first advent, and should have appealed
with special force to the Jews, it has also a lesson for us. When the
temple of Solomon was erected, the immense stones for the walls and
the foundation were entirely prepared at the quarry; after they were
brought to the place of building, not an instrument was to be used upon
them; the workmen had only to place them in position. For use in the
foundation, one stone of unusual size and peculiar shape had been
brought; ut the workmen could find no place for it, and would not
accept it. It was an annoyance to them as it lay unused in their way.
Long it remained a rejected stone. But when the builders came to the
laying of the corner, they searched for a long time to find a stone of
sufficient size and strength, and of the proper shape, to take that par-
ticular place, and bear the great weight which would rest upon it.
Should they make an unwise choice for this important place, the safety
of the entire building would be endangered. They must find a stone
capable of resisting the influence of the sun, of frost, and of tempest.
Several stones had at different times been chosen, but under the pressure
of immense weights they had crumbled to pieces. Others could not bear
the test of the sudden atmospheric changes. But at last attention was
called to the stone so long rejected. It had been exposed to the air, to
sun and storm, without revealing the slightest crack. The builders ex-
amined this stone. It had borne every test but one. If it could bear the
test of severe pressure, they decided to accept it for the corner stone.
The trial was made. The stone was accepted, brought to its assigned
position, and found to be an exact fit. In prophetic vision, Isaiah was
shown that this stone was a symbol of Christ."—Id., pp. 597, 598.
5.
To what class does this "tried stone" become a stumblingblock?
1 Peter 2:7, 8.
6.
Where is the true foundation`stone laid? Isa. 28:16, first part;
Matt. 16:18. Answer.—In Zion, the church.
NOTE.—"In the presence of God, and all the heavenly intelligences,
in the presence of the unseen army of hell, Christ founded His church
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